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(Model.) M. SPRING- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

ARTIFICIAL LEG GGRD. No. 312,396. Y Y Patented Peb. 17, 1885.

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ARTIFICIAL LEG CORD.

Noi 312,396. Patented Feb. 17, 1885.

PATENT MENZO SPRING, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

ARTIFICIAL-LEG CORD.

SPECIFICATION :forming part of Letters Patent No. 312,396, dated February 1'7, 1885.

Application filed August 29, 18S-l. (Model To @ZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I. MnNzo SPRING, of the c'ty and county of San Francisco, and State of California, have invented an Improvement in Artificial-Leg Cords; and I hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to an improved cord which joins the foot to the leg portion of artificial legs; and my invention consists in a peculiarly plaited or braided outer covering or casing for the body or core of the cord, and in the connection between the top ofthe cord and the head of the screw, as I shall hereinafterfully explain. Cords which are used for this purpose consist ofa core of linen thread suitably Wound, with or without an encircling oasing of thread. Over this core or body is a casing of leather glued to the core and formed ofa strip having a single longitudinal seam.

At the lower end of the cord is a loop, by which' it is attached to the foot, and this loop is covered also by leather, which in the ordinary construction must be of a piece separate from that forming the casing of the main portion of the cord, and there is therefor a lap-joint generally formed between the two. Besides the difficulty of making two casings-one for the body of the cord and the other for the loop there are other disadvantages of the ordinary cord. It is found in setting the tightening-nut upon its screw the cord is inclined to twist, and in time the casing, which is not adapted to resist a twisting` strain, becomes loose and finally breaks. Again, in the ordinary cord the upper end is doubled on itself', and incloses a wedge, which is pulled down by the cord into the hollow. head of thescrew, and is there suitably secured by cementing or otherwise. This attachment is imperfect, requiring much time and great care in making, and even then it is liable to become loose and pull through the screw or burst the screwhead by reason of thegreat strain upon the cord.

The object of my invention is to provide a casing for the bodyV or core of the cord which by being plaited or braided is not only adapted to resist the twisting strain, but will even tighten on itself, and cannot become rigid or stiff as the nut is turned in either direction,

4 represents theupper portion of my improvement in section.

The cord A consists of the usual core of thread properly wound. It has a casing or covering, B, which consists of a single strip of leather or other suitable flexible material, which is slit longitudinally in any number of strips, preferably in four, two from each end, toward the center, as in Fig. 2, leaving an uncut portion equal to the circumference of and covering the loop C. The strip ends of this covering are braided or plaited around the body or core of the cord, two strips running one way and two the other, thus forming a complete covering or casing, Fig. l. The upper end of the cord is inserted in the hollow screw D, and the threads of its core are passed around the pin E, (preferably of metah) which is seated in bearings f inthe head F of the screw. The threads thus passing around and the pin itself are glued or otherwise cemented to their places.

Gis a nut upon the screw, by which the cord is tightened in the usual manner. As this nut is turned one way or the other to tighten or loosen the cord, the twisting tendency upon the cord is borne by the casing B in such a manner as not to be injured thereby nor loosened, as it yields easily in two of its strips and tightens in the others, no matter whether the nut is turned up or down, and this tightening of the casing obviatesthe necessity of using glue to secure it to the core, and it will therefore wear a longer time than the ordinary cords of this description. The making of the casing B of one piece is also an advantage in economy and labor, while the manner of securing the cord to the nut is simple and effective.

The application of the cord to the leg is in the usual wellknown manner shown in Fig. 3, in which the cords are secured to the foot P, and thence pass up through the plate Q in ICO l mainder of the cord, substantially as herein described.

2. An articial-1eg cord, A, and the crosspin E, around Which its end is passed, in combination with the screw. D, having a head, F, with bearings f, in which the cross-pin fits, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

MENZO SPRING. Witnesses:

S. H. N oURsE, H. C. LEE. 

